Algae is a common problem for those who are looking to keep fish in their indoor water tank. Not only does it look disgusting, but it also blocks light from getting to your plants, which can lead to underwater death. Anyone who has tried killing algae knows that it’s not easy! There are many different types of solutions out there when it comes to removing this pesky plant from your aquariums.
Check out these 6 effective solutions to get rid of algae.
Clean The Filter
The filter of the water tank is made up of foam. This filter prevents impurities in the water from reaching your home, but it can also accumulate algae as well and prevent clear flow. To clean it, you will have to remove the foam and rinse it with water.
This is a good solution. However, in many cases, algae can grow still and fish that eat algae will still be able to find it. So make sure that there are no other areas where you need to be cleaning up. It may also require more than one treatment if your tank has been contaminated for years or even months.
Change The Location of Your Tank
Although it might be tempting, you should never place your water tank near a window. This will allow sunlight to penetrate the water and provide nutrients for algae growth. If possible, find another spot where there is less natural light or more shade throughout the day.
This will also help lower the humidity inside of your home, which can be a major problem for algae growth. Humidity is one of the leading causes of why algae thrive in tanks because they are able to produce more oxygen and stay moist with little effort. If you want to reduce or prevent this from happening, make sure lighting stays low and ventilates often.
If you have an outdoor tank that’s susceptible to sunlight exposure, then try shielding it as much as possible by adding plants or trees around it. This could provide shade during certain periods throughout the day when there is a lot of sunlight, but know that these things take time. It might not work right away even if done correctly, so don’t give up.
Add A Clarifier
Add a clarifier to remove phosphates and silicates from tap water. This will keep the growth of algae down.
A clarifier is a type of clarifying agent, a substance that removes impurities from liquids. The clarifier is usually added to water at the point where it enters the tank or before filtration in order to remove any suspended particles which may cause discoloration and odors, as well as provide better clarity for light transmission into the liquid.
The clarifiers are often proteins such as polyaluminum chloride (PAC) which have been shown more effective than conventional clarifiers like aluminum sulfate because they produce fewer by-products during their reaction with dissolved organic matter when added in suspension.
Increase Aeration
Adding aeration to your water tank will help reduce the buildup of algae. Aerators are often used in fresh-water tanks for this purpose, but any type of air pump can be effective as well. They increase oxygen content, which helps break down organic matter and dissolve CO² into carbonic acid that’s dissolved in the water column. This prevents algae growth around these areas by depriving them of nutrients or light exposure (which they need).
Increase The Temperature
The bacteria that cause algae thrive in warmer temperatures, so turning up the temperature on your water heater by about 20 degrees Fahrenheit during the day will result in a significant decrease of algae in your tank.
The warmer temperatures will also help you flush out any algae that are currently in the water by speeding up evaporation, and it will make periodic scrubbing easier as well.
Use Algaecide
Algaecides are chemicals that can be introduced into the water tank to kill algae and prevent them from growing back. One type of algaecide is copper sulfate, which works by interfering with algae’s metabolism process in a way that makes it difficult for photosynthesis to occur. It also helps stop bacteria growth, so make sure you clean your filter after using this product as well!
You may already be doing some of these steps to clean your filter, but consider a complete overhaul. After cleaning the filter and changing its location, you’ll want to increase aeration throughout your tank so that all parts are getting enough oxygen. This will help remove any bad bacteria hiding in the sediment at the bottom of your tank or clogging up filters with algae growths. Once this is done, add a clarifier to make sure there isn’t anything else lurking in the water before turning up your heater and using an algaecide containing copper sulfate every month or two, depending on how often you need maintenance.
